Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Auburn University received a $166,152 Project Grant from the National Institute on Aging (Aging Research Program, CFDA 93.866) effective March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2029. This award supports biomedical research directed toward understanding the role of microRNA-1 (miR-1) in regulating pyruvate metabolism and skeletal muscle metabolic dysfunction in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). The research will deliver scientific investigation into how miR-1 and its target genes contribute to skeletal muscle metabolic myopathy and mobility limitation in both experimental PAD models and clinical disease. Primary deliverables include identification of the miR-1-regulated transcriptome, determination of mechanisms by which miR-1 loss contributes to metabolic inflexibility, and evaluation of whether rescuing skeletal muscle miR-1 expression can ameliorate ischemic pathology and exercise-induced metabolic function.

The research employs state-of-the-art experimental approaches including Argonaute enhanced crosslinking and immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (eCLIP-seq) to characterize molecular mechanisms and will utilize genetically modified mouse models alongside clinical disease samples. These research outputs are intended to generate evidence supporting the development of therapeutic interventions targeting skeletal muscle metabolic pathways in PAD, a condition affecting an estimated 8-12 million Americans, including 10-15% of individuals age 65 and older. The three-year project period aligns with standard National Institute on Aging grant parameters supporting biomedical and behavioral research training in aging-related conditions.